Repositionable trigger system

ABSTRACT

This invention replaces a stationary handgrip with a repositionable trigger system which allows the user to quickly reconfigure the trigger system to offset the trigger to either the right or to the left. This allows the user to protect his shooting hand from return fire from the enemy. A previous design from the inventor was a minimal exposure weapon which protected all of the shooter, with exception of the shooter&#39;s firing hand, by allowing the shooter from behind a wall or a corner. The present invention complements the previous invention as well as other weapons by protecting the shooter&#39;s hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to firearms and, more particularly,pertains to minimum exposure weapons which allow the user to fire aweapon from a covered position with minimal exposure to enemy fire.

2. Description of Prior Art

The use of firearms is known in prior art. More specifically, firearmsheretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically offamiliar, expected and obvious structural configurations,notwithstanding the myriads of designs encompassed by the crowded priorart which have been developed for the fulfillment of countlessobjectives and requirements.

Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. Des 324,557; 6,637,141B1;6,517,133 B2; 6,397,507 B1; 6,070,355; 5,675,112; 4,878,305; 4,827,652;4,677,781; 3,369,316; 2,826,848; 2,771,697; and 1,386,247.

The inventive device substantially departs from the conventionalconcepts and designs of the prior art and in doing so provide a weaponprimarily developed for the purpose of allowing a user to fire theweapon with a minimum of exposure from enemy fire. A previous inventionof the inventor, was a Minimum Exposure Weapon, which allows a shooterto fire a weapon from behind a wall with minimum exposure to the shooterwith exception to the shooter's trigger hand, which remains exposed. Thepresent invention will effectively mate to the Minimum Exposure Weapon,as well as other weapons, and reduce the exposure from enemy fire tothat hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Although the repositionable trigger system was designed with the M-16type weapons in mind, it is certainly not limited to that application,but for the current discussion the M-16, will be the focus. Therepositionable trigger system was designed to replace the handgrip, andthe trigger guard on the lower receiver of the M-16. The inventionallows the shooter to extent the handgrip downward and to pivot thehandgrip either to the right or to the left a few inches. The hand gripcontains the linkages necessary and a secondary trigger to allow theweapon to be fired by exerting a force on the primary trigger throughthe primary trigger interface control rod. The system was designed withthe criteria to be able to retrofit existing weapon designs with aminimum of changes. The invention when installed on current M-16, looksvery much like the current hand grip and allows the user to fire theweapon using the primary trigger. But when the user wants to protect hishand, the invention will rapidly offset either to the right or to theleft to allow the hand to be protected behind a wall.

When coupled to the inventers previous invention the Minimum ExposureWeapon, the shooter's entire body can be shielded, behind a wall, whilehe fires his weapon. The invention also contains a special retainerwhich is used to hold captive the improved detent and spring, used inthe safety-Fire lever function. Normally, when the handgrip is removed,from the lower receiver, the detent and spring fall out of the detentand spring orifice. The spring is actually housed in the upper handgrip. But by using a shorter spring and detent with the retainer, thehandgrip can be removed with out impeding the Safe-Fire lever.

To operate the trigger system, the release screw would be unscrewed fromthe bottom of the hand grip. This step could be accomplished before auser suspected that he may want to utilize the unique feature of thetrigger system. Then, when needed, the release lever is depressed andthe spring loaded secondary trigger rotates out. The secondary triggeralso functions as a holding pin, so once it is deployed the handgrip canbe extended and rotated into position. The internal control rods andlinkages are automatically aligned to support the function of thesecondary trigger to fire the weapon.

To convert back to the normal mode, where the primary trigger is usedand the secondary trigger in housed in the handgrip, the user wouldswing the handgrip back to the bottom and slide the grip up mate withthe lower receiver. When in the upper position the secondary trigger canbe pulled back where it will function as a locking pin. It will belatched into position by the release lever. Because of the design, thesecondary trigger can only fire the weapon when it is fully extended.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a trigger systemwhich will complement a weapon which can be carried and used as aconventional weapon and when necessary this weapon can be converted realtime to support firing from behind a corner of a building or object;this trigger system supports this object by allowing the user's hand tobe under cover while firing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a profile view of a lower receiver with the present inventioninstalled and configured to use the primary trigger.

FIG. 2 is a profile view of a lower receiver with the present inventioninstalled and configured to use the secondary trigger.

FIG. 3 is profile view detailing the trigger mount adapter and theFire-Safe detent spring retainer.

FIG. 4 details the secondary trigger in the fire position.

FIG. 5 details the secondary trigger in the primary trigger fire mode.

FIG. 6 details the secondary trigger and linkages when fired.

FIG. 7 details the secondary trigger and linkages prior to firing.

FIG. 8 is an isometric projection of the handgrip off set to the leftside.

FIG. 9 is an isometric projection of the handgrip off set to the rightside.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the trigger mount adapter.

FIG. 11 is the left end view of the trigger mount adapter.

FIG. 12 is a lateral view of the trigger mount adapter.

FIG. 13 is the right end view of the trigger mount adapter.

FIG. 14 is the bottom view of the trigger mount adapter.

FIG. 15 is a lateral view of the superior support arm.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the superior support arm.

FIG. 17 is a lateral view of the inferior support arm.

FIG. 18 is an end view of the inferior support arm.

FIG. 19 is the end view of the Fire-Safe detent spring retainer.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the Fire-Safe detent spring retainer.

FIG. 21 is an isometric view of the Fire-Safe detent spring retainer.

FIG. 22 is the top view of the Fire-Safe detent spring retainer.

FIG. 23 is a left end view of the primary trigger interface control rodinstalled in the trigger mount adapter.

FIG. 24 is a lateral view of the primary trigger interface control rodinstalled in the trigger mount adapter.

FIG. 25 is an end view of the primary trigger interface control rod.

FIG. 26 is a lateral view the primary trigger interface control rod.

FIG. 27 is the top view the primary trigger interface control rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, the repositionable trigger system embodyingthe present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10in FIG. 1. The repositionable trigger system 10 is attached to the lowerreceiver 30 using the trigger mount adapter 20. The configuration isshown for firing using the primary trigger 18. In FIG. 2, therepositionable trigger system 10 is now configured to be fired using thesecondary trigger 14 which is housed in handgrip 12.

FIG. 3 details a cutaway view of the trigger mount adapter 20 as well asa cutaway view of the Safe/Fire detent 32 and spring 28 which is held inplace by retainer 60 which is sandwiched between trigger mount adapter20 and lower receiver 30. Additional items shown in this view throughthe handgrip 12 which has been outlined are the inferior support arm 26which is connected to the superior support arm 24 which in turn isconnected to the trigger mount adapter 20. Fastener 38 secures handgrip12 into primary trigger 18 mode firing. Detailed in the cutaway view oftrigger mount adapter, are the primary trigger interface control rod 22,the mounting bolt 36 which mounts the trigger mount adapter 20 to thelower receiver 30 with the retainer 60 retaining the Safe/Fire detent 32and spring 28 into proper position. Detent 34 is shown which willprovide positive stops for superior support arm 24.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 detail the working relationship of the secondarytrigger 48 with the control linkages 42, 44, and 46. FIG. 5 shows theposition of secondary trigger 48, held in place by trigger release lever50, when configured for primary trigger 18 firing. In this positionsecondary trigger 18 is out of reach of the control linkage 46. In thisposition, the posterior arm of secondary trigger 48 acts as a retainingpin interfacing opening 54 (FIG. 16) in superior support arm 24. Whenthe handgrip 12 is deployed, in FIG. 4, secondary trigger displacescontrol linkage 42 to fire the weapon.

FIG. 6 shows secondary trigger 48 in position when the weapon is fired.The posterior arm of secondary trigger 48 has displaced lever 42 andthrough displacements of levers 44 and 46, the primary trigger interfacecontrol rod 52 has pulled the primary trigger 18 to fire the weapon.FIG. 7 details these components prior to the pulling of the secondarytrigger.

FIG. 8 shows the repositionable trigger system isolated from the lowerreceiver while it is offset to the left side. Wing flap 11 (not seen)has been rotated into a horizontal position under superior support arm24. The two holes 25 are used to aid in mounting trigger mount adapter20. FIG. 9 shows the repositionable trigger system isolated from thelower receiver while it is offset to the right side. Wing flap 13 (notseen) has been rotated into a horizontal position under superior supportarm 24.

FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 show the trigger mount adapter 20 in thetop view, left end view, side view, right end view, and bottom view.FIG. 15 is a lateral view of the superior support arm 24 and FIG. 16 isthe end view of the same showing opening 54 which is used as areceptacle for the posterior arm of the secondary trigger 48 to securethe handgrip into position. FIG. 17 is the lateral view of the inferiorsupport arm 26. A cut away section reveals the securing fastener whichmates with the securing screw (FIG. 3 item 38) to secure the handgrip 12into position. FIG. 18 is a left lateral view of the inferior supportarm 26 detailing opening 56 which allows the posterior arm of secondarytrigger 48 to push the linkage 42 (FIG. 4) which in turn fires theweapon. Not shown are the return springs that return the linkages andthe trigger to the ready to fire positions.

FIGS. 19, 20, 21, and 22 are the end view, side view, a prospectiveview, and a top view. These views detail the Safety/Fire Spring 28 (FIG.3) and detent 32 (FIG. 3) retainer whose primary purpose is to keep thedetent and spring in proper position when the handgrip (12) isrepositioned in a lateral position. The secondary purpose of theretainer is to eliminate long term wear from occurring from the lowerreceiver (typically manufactured from aluminum) from the upper handgripbeing mated and unmated. Item 62 is the hole that bolt 36 (FIG. 3)passes through to screw into the trigger mount adapter 20 (FIG. 3).FIGS. 23, 24, 25, 26 & 27 detail the primary trigger interface controlrod. Notch 64 is used to interface lever 46 (FIG. 6).

It is noted that the embodiment of the repositionable trigger systemdescribed herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subjectto many different variations in structure, design, application andmethodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be madewithin the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and becausemany modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed inaccordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to beunderstood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

1) A trigger system designed to be relocated from a normal position toprotect the firing hand of the user from return fire by offsetting thehandgrip to a position which could be shielded from hostile fire; saidtrigger system comprising: a) said handgrip projecting from the inferiorsurface of the lower receiver of the weapon; b) a trigger mount adapterconnecting said trigger system to said lower receiver of said weapon; c)a primary trigger interface control rod allowing control of primarytrigger from a posterior location through an orifice in said triggermount adapter; d) a superior support arm connected to the inferiorsurface of said trigger mount adapter allowing bilateral rotation ofsaid superior support arm about said trigger mount adapter said rotationis primarily in a perpendicular plane in relation to said lowerreceiver; e) an inferior support arm connected to the inferior surfaceof said superior support arm allowing for rotational movement of saidinferior support arm about said superior arm mainly in a perpendicularplane in respect to said lower receiver; f) a secondary trigger mountedin said handgrip; g) control linkages with associated pivot pointsconnecting said secondary trigger to said primary trigger interfacecontrol rod allowing said weapon to be fired with said secondarytrigger; h) a means for securing said handgrip in position on said lowerreceiver when said weapon is to be fired with said primary trigger; i) ameans for securing said hand grip in position on said inferior supportarm when said handgrip is positioned laterally in respect to said weaponwhen said weapon is to be fired by said secondary trigger preventingexposure to said return fire; j) an improved spring and detent for saidweapon safety lever which allows for said spring and said detent to behoused entirely in said lower receiver; k) a retainer which matesbetween said lower receiver and said trigger mount adapter allowing forthe repositioning of said handgrip while keeping captive said weaponsafety lever, said spring and said detent; 2) The trigger system claimedin claim 1, wherein said handgrip slides upon said superior support armand said inferior support arm, said handgrip contains locking mechanismswhich allows said handgrip to be reposition and secured to a lateralposition in respect to said weapon when said weapon is to be fired bysaid secondary trigger, said superior support arm as well as saidcontrol linkages may be telescoping in nature to extend the lateraldisplacement of said handgrip during said secondary trigger firing ofsaid weapon, said handgrip also utilizes said locking mechanisms tosecure said handgrip snuggly around said trigger mount adapter, and saidretainer which is securely fastened to said lower receiver while saidweapon is configured in the normal or neutral position when said weaponis to be fired by said primary trigger. 3) The trigger system claimed inclaim 1, wherein said trigger mount adapter replaces the trigger guardassembly of said lower receiver utilizing at least one of the existingroll pin holes of said trigger guard located in said lower receiver formounting of said trigger mount adapter, said trigger system alsoutilizes the existing handgrip mounting screw hole located in said lowerreceiver for mounting of said trigger mount adapter. 4) The triggersystem claimed in claim 3, wherein said trigger mount adapter contains adetent to secure said superior support arm bilaterally either to theright at a horizontal position or to the left at a horizontal positionor to the normal neutral position, said trigger mount adapter allows forthe rotation of said superior support arm into said bilateral left orright horizontal positions. 5) The trigger system claimed in claim 4,wherein said trigger mount adapter allows for said primary triggerinterface control rod to be accessed and utilized in order for saidweapon to be fired through said control linkages by use of saidsecondary trigger to apply a force through said control linkages throughsaid primary trigger interface control rod to pull said primary trigger.6) The trigger system claimed in claim 5, wherein said trigger mountallows for mounting of said trigger system to the M-16, AR-15 seriesrifles without modification of said lower receiver allowing said triggersystem to be retrofit to existing said M-16, said AR-15 rifles. 7) Thetrigger system claimed in claim 1, where in said secondary triggerprovides an extension arm for use in applying a force to one of saidcontrol linkage located in said inferior support arm in order to firesaid weapon, said extension arm is also utilized to lock said handgripinto normal position for firing by said primary trigger. 8) The triggersystem claimed in claim 7, wherein said superior support arm provides anopening in which said extension arm of said secondary trigger is housedand is used to lock said handgrip into normal position in which theweapon is fired by said primary trigger. 9) The trigger system claimedin claim 7, wherein said inferior support arm provides an opening inwhich said extension arm of said secondary trigger is given access tosaid control linkage which is used to transmit a force to said primarytrigger interface control rod to pull said primary trigger in order tofire said weapon. 10) The trigger system claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid handgrip may contain moveable flaps which may be spring held intotheir upright position, said moveable flaps may be pushed open when saidhandgrip is extended down and rotated into the firing position for saidsecondary trigger operation. 11) The trigger system claimed in claim 10,wherein said handgrip provides locking mechanisms to maintain saidsecondary trigger in concealed position and said handgrip in normalposition until deployed, said handgrip also provides said lockingmechanisms to secure said handgrip in position along said inferiorsupport arm and said handgrip provides a release mechanism for saidsecondary trigger deployment to support said secondary trigger firing ofsaid weapon. 12) A trigger system designed for retrofit to currentrifles whereas said trigger system can be relocated real time to aposition lateral to the current position in order to protect the firinghand of the user from return fire, said trigger system comprising; a) ahandgrip projecting from the inferior surface of the lower receiver ofthe weapon; b) a trigger mount adapter connecting said trigger system tosaid lower receiver of said weapon utilizing current mounting holes andscrew holes of said lower receiver thereby allowing retrofit of saidtrigger system to the current designs of said rifles; c) a primarytrigger interface control rod allowing control of primary trigger from aposterior location through an orifice in said trigger mount adapter; d)a superior support arm connected to the inferior surface of said triggermount adapter allowing bilateral rotation of said superior support armabout said trigger mount adapter said rotation is primarily in aperpendicular plain in relation to said lower receiver; e) an inferiorsupport arm connected to the inferior surface of said superior supportarm allowing for rotational movement of said inferior support arm aboutsaid superior arm mainly in to a parallel position in respect to saidlower receiver; f) a secondary trigger mounted in said handgrip; g)control linkages with associated pivot points connecting said secondarytrigger to said primary trigger interface control rod allowing saidweapon to be fired with said secondary trigger; h) a means for securingsaid handgrip in position on said lower receiver when said weapon is tobe fired with said primary trigger; i) a means for securing said handgrip in position on said inferior support arm when said handgrip ispositioned laterally in respect to said weapon when said weapon is to befired by said secondary trigger preventing hand exposure to said returnfire; 13) The trigger system claimed in claim 12, where in said triggersystem may include an improved spring and detent for said weapon safetylever which allows for said spring and said detent to be housed entirelyin said lower receiver; 14) The trigger system in claim 12, where insaid trigger system may include a retainer which mates between saidlower receiver and said trigger mount adapter allowing for therepositioning of said handgrip while keeping captive the safety leverspring and detent; 15) The trigger system claimed in claim 12, whereinsaid handgrip may be positioned and secured along said superior supportarm and said inferior support arm, said handgrip contains lockingmechanisms which allows said handgrip to be reposition and secured to alateral position in respect to said weapon when said weapon is to befired by said secondary trigger, said handgrip also utilizes saidlocking mechanisms to secure said handgrip snuggly around said triggermount adapter, and said retainer which is securely fastened to saidlower receiver while said weapon is configured in the normal or neutralposition when said weapon is to be fired by said primary trigger. 16)The trigger system claimed in claim 12, wherein said trigger mountadapter, when retrofitting to the M-16, or AR-15 replaces the triggerguard assembly of said lower receiver utilizing at least one of theexisting roll pin holes of said trigger guard located in said lowerreceiver for mounting of said trigger mount adapter, said trigger systemalso utilizes the existing handgrip mounting screw hole located in saidlower receiver for mounting of said trigger mount adapter. 17) Thetrigger system claimed in claim 16, wherein said trigger mount adapterallows for said primary trigger interface control rod to be accessed andutilized in order for said weapon to be fired through said controllinkages by use of said secondary trigger to apply a force through saidcontrol linkages through primary trigger interface control rod to pullsaid primary trigger for firing of said weapon. 18) The trigger systemclaimed in claim 1, where in said secondary trigger provides anextension arm for use in applying a force to one of said control linkagelocated in said inferior support arm in order to fire said weapon, saidextension arm is also utilized to lock said handgrip into normalposition for firing by said primary trigger, said secondary trigger isdeployed by a releasing latch contained in said handgrip. 19) Thetrigger system claimed in claim 15, wherein said superior support armprovides an opening in which said extension arm of said secondarytrigger is housed and is used to lock said handgrip into normal positionin which said weapon is fired by said primary trigger. 20) The triggersystem claimed in claim 12, where in said superior support arm as wellas said control linkages may be telescoping in nature to extend thelateral displacement of said handgrip during said secondary triggerfiring of said weapon.